by Malcolm Butler
Micah Taylor is the epitome of Cedar Creek football in some ways.
The junior defensive back for the undefeated and No. 9-ranked Cougars is undersized, although he has grown physically over the past few years.
Now 5-foot-8, 160-pounds, Taylor was far from that when he started playing varsity for the Cougars in ninth grade.
But Taylor hasn’t allowed his lack of size to slow him down.
In fact, he’s used it as motivation.
“You can’t tell yourself that you’re not as good as those guys just because you’re smaller,” said Taylor. “You can be just as good as anybody. The size is your mentality.”
That approach has served Taylor well during his three years on the Cedar Creek varsity, where he has developed into one of the Cougars’ top defensive playmakers.
Taylor has recorded 10 career interceptions, including six during his sophomore season and two through the first five games this year. He is tied with Ladd Thompson for third place on the school’s career interceptions list, trailing only Greg Martin (13 from 1983-86) and Tanner Disotell (12).
Not bad for a young man who has spent much of his high school career looking up — literally — at the players lining up across from him.
“He’s everything you want in a Cedar Creek football player,” said Cougars head coach Jacob Angevine. “You’re undersized. You’re probably not the fastest guy, probably not the strongest guy, but the thing is, you can’t be outworked.
“Micah does a really good job in the weight room, does a really good job out here. He takes coaching. If he gets chewed on a little bit, he takes it. He says, ‘Yes, sir,’ and then he fixes the mistake and goes out there and probably gets a pick the next play.”
Taylor and the Cougars (5-0) will put their undefeated record on the line Friday when they travel to face North Caddo (1-3). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Cedar Creek, ranked No. 9 in this week’s Class A Top 10 poll, is coming off a dramatic 22-21 come-from-behind road victory over North Webster. North Caddo enters the contest following a loss to Glenbrook.
For Taylor, Friday nights are about more than individual statistics or school records.
“You’ve got to go out there with that war mindset,” Taylor said. “You’re playing with your brothers. You’ve got to help your teammates out and do whatever you can for them and just make the plays for them.”
It’s a mentality that defensive coordinator Mark Ware believes separates Taylor from plenty of other players.
“I think he’s just a tremendous competitor,” Ware said. “He’s just a tough kid. He does exactly what you teach him to do. He’s very smart on a football field. He just has that competitor in him. Sometimes young ones have it, sometimes they don’t.”
Taylor’s football education began long before he first stepped onto the field as a varsity player.
His father, Stephen, previously served as Cedar Creek’s defensive coordinator, and Micah grew up around the program, spending time as a ball boy and learning what was expected of Cougar football players.
“He was around it when he was young,” Ware said. “He understands what it takes to be a good football player.”
That early exposure didn’t necessarily make the transition to varsity football easy.
Angevine said Taylor was thrown into action as a freshman before he was physically ready, experiencing his share of growing pains while competing against older players.
Taylor credits former Cedar Creek standout Mason Wooten with helping him through that adjustment.
“I was kind of under his wing freshman year, just learning from him, seeing what high school is about,” Taylor said. “He told me don’t let the game get to you, stay calm and play the game like you can.”
Taylor took that advice to heart.
He recorded six interceptions as a sophomore, and his reputation has grown to the point that Angevine believes opposing quarterbacks are now reluctant to throw in his direction.
“There’s really not a whole lot of people throwing his way,” Angevine said. “People want to stay away from No. 5, and I don’t blame them.”
Ware recalled one particular assignment against St. Frederick earlier this season when the coaching staff matched Taylor against the Warriors’ best wideout.
“We locked Micah on him and said, ‘He’s your baby. Don’t let him catch a ball,'” Ware said. “I thought Micah did a terrific job with him.”
But Taylor’s success isn’t simply about toughness or determination.
Angevine said his junior defensive back is an avid student of the game who spends considerable time watching film, studying opposing receivers and quarterbacks and learning from mistakes.
“If he does have a mess-up, he’s the first one watching film,” Angevine said. “He’s seeing what he can fix, and he’s right back out there the next play. He doesn’t let it dwell on him for too long.”
As for the possibility of breaking a school interceptions record that has stood for 40 years? Taylor didn’t even know how close he was when asked about it.
“I have no idea,” he said when asked how many interceptions he had on his career.
And that might say as much about the Cedar Creek junior as his 10 career interceptions. For Taylor, it’s not about being the biggest player on the field or having his name atop a record book. It’s about being the best player he can be for his teammates.
And that’s exactly what Angevine wants from his Cougars.
“He’s just one of those kids that you really want to have in the locker room,” Angevine said. “I wish I had a few more of them, for sure.”
